Janace

I am focusing on 80/10/10 right now because I fell into eating way too much fat (30-40% of my overall 1600 calories). I am 5'2". I have lost about 13 pounds on 80/10/10 to get back to an ideal weight for my build and stature. I am feeling so much better. I was eating way too many nuts previously. Now I range from 8% to 16%. It fluctuates daily but I am happy with this range. I think you need to be okay with the fluctuation because by the end of the week it often averages close to 10%. I have cut out oils and sweeteners (I will sweeten with dried fruits such as dates, figs, apricots, etc.). I eat a lot of fruit and greens together. I have found that the addition of the greens keeps me satiated. Since fruits and vegetables naturally have some fat I limit my addition of fat to one meal a day (i.e. adding avocado, nut butter, coconut yogurt, hemp hearts, tahini, etc.). When I make dressings for salads I will use celery and/or zucchini to bulk it up rather than nuts. It really makes a huge difference in your daily fat % and you don't have to be stingy with the dressing. I think if you are too rigid it may not work for you. It took me a little bit to keep working on reducing the fat and to see what worked for me. I tell you the reduction to 10% fat did not happen overnight for me. I really like the way I feel on 80/10/10 and it will make it very easy to maintain my weight by eating this way. Once you understand what works for you it can be very sustainable for the long term.

You can substitute yellow squash. It works great and does not have the mild bitter taste zucchini can sometimes have.

If you are soaking nuts for longer than 12 hours you need to change the water once or twice a day. I would toss it and start over. Are you using filtered water?

Although almond flour is just ground almonds the yield will not be the same. You might also find that the consistency of the recipe is stickier.

Acai either in powder form or frozen. I use it in smoothies. It has Vitamin A which helps with vision and immune support, Vitamin C which helps the immune system, Calcium for bone health, and Iron to support blood health.  I like that is contains iron. It mixes well with many different fruits so you really can't go wrong. I like Goji berries too. They also have Vitamin A & C, and Iron as well as trace minerals, protien, and amino acids. I get the dried goji berries. These pair particularly well with strawberries in a smoothie. Goji berries are supposed to be very nutrient dense.  I cannot forget Cacao powder which is a great source of magnesium, fiber, and iron. This can be used in smoothies and desserts. I love Laura-Janes one minute fudge. It is great if you are watching your weight and just need a bite of super rich chocolately goodness.

The most imporant suppliments for raw vegans are B-12 and Iodine. I use Garden of Life My Kind Organics B-12 spray. I have also used thier capsuls. Since B-12 is not found in significant quantities in plant foods it is a necessity for health. If you use sea salt it will not contain Iodine so you will need to supplement. This is critical for thyroid function. I have Iodine drops from Sprouts that I take daily.

I hope this helps. I cannot wait to see what others post here. Great topic!